Ava Gardner. Greta Garbo. Charlie Chaplin. Oscar Wilde. Winston Churchill. Beyond their legacy, there is something ethereal that unites these five names: their fragrance. They all chose Clive Christian to perfume themselves, not guided by chance, but as a desire to evoke greatness and eternity. Long before them, a historical figure would mark the destiny of this perfume house, laying the foundations for a fragrance that would bear witness to the passage of time and the immortality of those who wore it.
Clive Christian is one of the oldest perfume houses in the world, with bottles echoing a history of elegance and transformation. Its founder, William Sparks Thomson, a renowned London corset maker, turned the art of perfumery into a relief at a time when corsets constricted women’s bodies and breathing to the point of fainting. He created delicate aromatic lavender salts that brought them back to consciousness, banishing the unpleasant smell of the ammonia salts that had been used until then.
From that need, in 1872, The Crown Perfumery was born as a tribute to Queen Victoria of England, its most famous patron, with whom it had a close relationship. Amidst whispers of orange blossom, the monarch’s favorite scent, it was granted the privilege of being the only house to bear the most precious symbol of British royalty: its crown. Each bottle, crowned with the sovereign’s insignia, proclaims itself as an emblem of lineage and tradition, carrying with it an empire that once ruled the world.
More than an ornamental jewel, it is a seal of the legacy of a dynasty. This gesture consolidated him as the most renowned perfumer in Europe. In fact, such was his prestige that his first fragrances sailed aboard the Titanic.
Resurrected in 1999 under the name Clive Christian, Queen Victoria’s iconic crown continues to be the visual essence of this historic house more than 150 years later. The brand has managed to keep the roots of British tradition and craftsmanship intact, merging with an innovative vision that has allowed it to withstand and stand out despite the passage of time. Its creations are majestic and classic olfactory relics that unfold their complexity in every accord. They have exceptional longevity, making them masterpieces in terms of intensity, thanks to a concentration of at least 20% essential oils in each of their fragrances.
Clive Christian’s excellence is equally evident in its ingredients, which seem beyond the beauty of nature: from 50-year-old Indian sandalwood to the unmistakable and delicate aroma of Damask rose or the purest saffron. All this, accompanied by cutting-edge technologies that mark the future of perfumery, has made Clive Christian the highest symbol of British luxury, a benchmark of distinction throughout the world.
That is why Clive Christian is not just a perfume house: it is a tribute to timelessness and authenticity, the true expressions of luxury. Every drop of its perfumes carries with it the breath of another era, an elixir that was once salvation and is now pure sophistication. Luxury is elevated to the category of eternity.
The 3 most iconic perfumes by Clive Christian
CRAB APPLE BLOSSOM
Created in 1886, it marked the beginning of Clive Christian’s history. A fragrance that soon captivated Victorian high society and marked the beginning of a story that continues to this day, remaining the brand’s most famous fragrance.
Inspired by the wild apple blossoms that adorned its founder’s garden, this Eau de Parfum evokes the freshness of an English spring breeze. Its opening, with refreshing citrus notes, awakens the senses, while its closing, with warm and creamy touches, melts gently on the skin. A charming softness that also leaves a lasting impression. The perfect reflection of elegance and sophistication.
Top notes: apple blossom, marine bergamot
Middle notes: green rhubarb, mojito (mint and sugar)
Base notes: sandalwood, driftwood
X MASCULINE
This is a true encounter between East and West. This purely masculine fougère is magnetically exotic, sensual and captivating. Its essence is born from the most classic principles of perfumery, capturing great Arabic reminiscences and the European tradition of ancient perfumes: everything a perfume should be. It is based on the legendary passionate and tragic love story between Mark Antony and Cleopatra. A scent that seduces, fascinates and envelops you irresistibly.
Top notes: cardamom, pink pepper, ginger, bergamot
Middle notes: iris flower, violet, cinnamon
Base notes: vetiver, moss, vanilla
ECSTATIC
Part of the Addictive Arts collection, whose perfumes are based on stories written by great British writers, using an alchemical process exclusive to the perfume house, through an innovative molecule custom-designed for Clive Christian that defies imitation. This floral perfume is presented as an enveloping and tempting combination, like a symbol of dangerous love. It is an ode to the night, pure distilled seduction and the reflection of authentic perfumery hedonism.
Top notes: rose, orange blossom, bitter orange
Middle notes: tuberose, ylang-ylang, jasmine
Base notes: sandalwood, amber, tonka bean
Find more fragrances on the official Clive Christian website.
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Last Updated on October 27, 2025 by Editorial Team
